Soccer: Parents, players to dig deep for going global

A greatly increased diet of international soccer across all New Zealand age groups comes at a cost.

It will, in some instances, lead to players and parents having to put their hands into their pockets.

New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter is making no apologies for invoking a user-pays element to help fund the national body's ambitious programme.

"Take the highly successful under-20 boy's tour we have just had in Australia," said Seatter. "In this case they were asked to contribute $2500 each, which meant the [three-match] tour was totally self-funded.

"But, later in the year it is our intention that this same group - but not necessarily the same players - will play in South America, potentially three or four matches, at no cost.

"They will then play in January's Oceania qualifier for their World Cup in the hope of playing in Canada. Should they make it that far, as we would expect, they will have had a lot of football for their $2500."

Seatter said that would not mean players who can't afford to pay to play would be disadvantaged.

"No player has, or will, miss out," he said. "But, generally parents have been very supportive."

The players preparing for April's under-17 Oceania qualifying tournament in Tahiti will be given much the same opportunities with matches planned in the United States, South America and possibly Australia before the World Cup in Korea in September.

"We are not the rugby union," said Seatter. "We simply can't afford to fund everything we want to do. Should the under-17s make it through [to Korea] they could have been overseas six times in 15 months.

"In the past we have been to four World Cups or World Championships at all levels. Our objective in the next five years is to go to 14 - starting with our under-20 girls who have qualified.

"The total cost of competing internationally over the next 15-18 months will be around $500,000 per team, per World Cup," said Seatter.

"This will, of course, be the cost if we are the best in Oceania and we can't afford not to be the best."

Of the $156,000 loss sustained for the All Whites' one-off match against the Socceroos in London last June and reported to this week's annual congress, Seatter said that was part of the $350,000 of unbudgeted expense New Zealand Soccer had to accept.

"We had no international activity in the budget but these were opportunities which came our way."

"We expect to make $100,000 from our forthcoming four-match European tour," said Seatter about the 10-12 matches planned for the All Whites this year, including at least two in England in August against Premier League clubs Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic.

New Zealand Soccer are also keeping a close watch on the national team's progress at the Oceania Club Championships.

Should either Auckland City or YoungHeart Manawatu make it through to December's World Club Championship in Japan, the national body will pocket 10 per cent of the US$1 million pay out.

Seatter, who estimates a $5.5 million income/expenditure for the year, is grateful for the support from Sparc who have advanced $500,000 on future grants to help ease cashflow problems.

* Ricki Herbert will name his All Whites team for Europe on Monday and will have to leave out injured Ryan Nelson, Mark Paston and Duncan Oughton.